The Candle Lab: Identifying Physical and Chemical Properties
Up until this point we have mostly been working with the properties of matter. But the world has so many other materials in it. These materials each having their own unique set of physical properties. Examples of physical properties would be boiling point, freezing point, density, color, texture, etc. A physical property is a characteristic of the substance that can be observed without altering it's chemical make up. On the other hand, each material has a set of chemical properties. These properties can typically only be observed when the chemical make up of the substance is altered. For example, wood is good at burning or combustion. Oxygen combines with the carbon in the wood and is released as carbon dioxide Since the only way this can be observed is through burning the wood and altering its chemical make up, flammability is a chemical property of wood. The chemical reaction that was occurring is combustion.
Prelab
1.) What is a physical property?
2.) What is a chemical property?
3.) Identify three physical properties of water.
4.) Identify one chemical property of wood.
5.) Predict what properties a lit candle will have and classify them as physical or chemical.
Procedure
Observe a lit candle.
Identify 5 physical properties of this candle
Identify at least one chemical property
Data
Identify your observations and classification of the lit candle's properties.
Analysis
1. Cover your lit candle with a glass beaker provided by your instructor, describe the results?
2. What element is needed for the candle to burn?
3. What type of chemical reaction is this classified as?
4.Identify the following as a physical or chemical property: Sodium metal must be stored under kerosene or nitrogen because of its high reactivity with oxygen and water.
5. Identify the following as a chemical or physical property: Bromine is a reddish-brown element, is the only nonmetallic element that exists in the liquid state at room temperature.
Conclusion
Was your hypothesis correct? List two things that you learned from this activity.
The Candle Lab: Identifying Physical and Chemical Properties
Up until this point we have mostly been working with the properties of matter. But the world has so many other materials in it. These materials each having their own unique set of physical properties. Examples of physical properties would be boiling point, freezing point, density, color, texture, etc. A physical property is a characteristic of the substance that can be observed without altering it's chemical make up. On the other hand, each material has a set of chemical properties. These properties can typically only be observed when the chemical make up of the substance is altered. For example, wood is good at burning or combustion. Oxygen combines with the carbon in the wood and is released as carbon dioxide Since the only way this can be observed is through burning the wood and altering its chemical make up, flammability is a chemical property of wood. The chemical reaction that was occurring is combustion.
Prelab
1.) What is a physical property?2.) What is a chemical property?
3.) Identify three physical properties of water.
4.) Identify one chemical property of wood.
5.) Predict what properties a lit candle will have and classify them as physical or chemical.
Procedure
Observe a lit candle.Identify 5 physical properties of this candle
Identify at least one chemical property
Data
Identify your observations and classification of the lit candle's properties.Analysis
1. Cover your lit candle with a glass beaker provided by your instructor, describe the results?2. What element is needed for the candle to burn?
3. What type of chemical reaction is this classified as?
4.Identify the following as a physical or chemical property: Sodium metal must be stored under kerosene or nitrogen because of its high reactivity with oxygen and water.
5. Identify the following as a chemical or physical property: Bromine is a reddish-brown element, is the only nonmetallic element that exists in the liquid state at room temperature.
Conclusion
Was your hypothesis correct? List two things that you learned from this activity.